Beijing: Beijing announced on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are maintaining "close exchanges and communication." "The head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations," stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun during a regular news conference in Beijing.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump indicated on Monday that he plans to visit China "at some point, probably during this year or shortly thereafter." In response, Guo expressed hope that the US would work collaboratively with China to promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of China-US relations. Guo emphasized that the heads of state maintain close exchanges and communication, as noted by the Chinese state-run Global Times.

Guo further stated that China is committed to developing relations with the US based on principles of "mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and willing cooperation," while also safeguarding its own sovereignty, security, and development interests. He was responding to suggestions that Washington, DC, has more leverage over Beijing on trade issues than vice versa.

Trump recently threatened to impose a 200% tariff on China if it does not provide the US with rare earth magnets, though he expressed confidence that "we're not going to have a problem." The president acknowledged that while Beijing holds "some" power over Washington, DC, the US holds "bigger and better cards" than China. Guo reiterated China's clear stance on the tariff issue in response to Trump's threats.